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Eastern Cape Town Guards - by: Rory

April 16, 2017, 5:01 am
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I suppose, given my new geographical location, that acquiring medals to local Eastern Cape- based Town Guards would be on the cards. I was surprised however,with the alacrity with which they tracked me down and forced their way into my possession:

Here are a few that I have taken photos of - the rest await my attention after the Easter Weekend.

The medals are to:

6 (low number) Pte. E. Billson of the Port Elizabeth Town Guard (Ewan Billson) and
138 Pte. H.L. Anderson of the Uitenhage D.M.T. (Henry Lukey Anderson - District Mounted Troop)

Others not yet photographed are:

19 Pte. D.P. Zietsman of the Humansdorp Town Guard and
N/N. Pte. E.H.K. Mundell of the Cradock Town Guard. (Ernest Henry Kew Mundell)

From what I've surmised the Humansdorp T.G. medals are hard to find.

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Regards

Rory
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Proposed new forum sections: Natal Rebellion, First Boer War and Zulu Wars - by: djb

April 16, 2017, 6:20 am
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I was contemplating developing the forum to encompass these three new areas. This is partly because there is nowhere to discuss the recent Isandhlwana medals, First Boer War DCMs nor the 1906 casualty in the next DNW auction.

What do you think of this suggestion?
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Dundee TG and Local Defence Force pics - Creswicke V7. - by: LinneyI

April 16, 2017, 8:00 pm
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Interested members
As a departure from CT TG sub-unit pics, IL decided to leap towards the end of Vol.7 and illustrate the stalwarts of the Dundee TG and LDF. Especially liked is the notation under the pic of the Dundee LDF about them receiving the War Medal and Clasp. A rare distinction, indeed.
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IL trusts that readers will not take it amiss if he includes a pic of the QSA with clasp "Talana" and named to "H.T.Brown, Dundee Rifle Assoct'n" (in his current custody and obtained via our genial host some years ago). Whilst unable to offer a large bio of the gentleman in question, David's book "Talana - account and Medal Roll" tells us that Member H.T.Brown received a capitation grant of one pound for being an efficient member. David's book also includes extra info on the DTG and DRA.
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Greetings and questions - by: RAMBA

April 17, 2017, 3:32 am
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Hello and greetings from Australia. I'm trying to find out information about two individuals that served in the Anglo Boer War. I'm NOT related to them.

Below is an extract from a local newspaper that describes two of the three brothers. Mr Redmond Harry Jones and Fredrick William Catton-Jones.

If anyone has any additional information on these two individuals then I would be grateful.Redmond died in 1955 and Fredrick died in 1944 .Particularly interested in Redmond's time SA.

THE REGISTER
Adelaide, 5th February 1925

Mr. Redmond Jones, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Jones, has been farming at Metung, Gippsland, for many years. He left Clifton College. Eng land, at 17, ,and returned to Australia, where lie spent some time gaining stock and station experience. Forty years ago Mr. (now Sir) John Grice commissioned him to take a big lot of horses from Albury to Manfred Downs, his station in Queensland; they were nearly a year on the road, such were the difficulties of travelling stock in a terrible drought year.For four years Mr. Redmond Jones was on the Western Australian goldfields. At the outbreak of the Boer war he went to Durban, and enlisted in the South African Light Horse, commanded by Col. the Hon. Julian Byrjg, now Lord Byng, of Vimy, Governor General of Canada. The Australian served as trooper for three months, and was on the staff with six others as scouts. He was twice wounded in the war. In 1908 he returned to his native land, and bought a farm on the Gippsland Lakes, which he left in 1914, and remained in England doing 'his bit' for his country until 1921.


The second son. Col. Catton Jones, C.B., served with distinction in the Egyptian and Boer Wars, was shot in Ladysmith during the siege, later was P.M.O. with Walter Kitchener, commanding the 24th British Field Hospital in India. In the late war Col. Jones was in the retreat from Mons; he was invalided for a short time, then served as AJDJM.S. at Havre, until again invalided towards the close of hostilities, and on retirement from the active list was rewarded with a C.B. It is recorded of him that during a fight in the Boer war he was attending to the wounded in the shelter of a large rock, and noticing a comrade badly wounded, he' left his shelter and carried him to safety amidst a storm of bullets— valour, indeed, worthy of the Victoria Cross!

Thanks Tom.
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Revised layout - no right hand menu any more - by: djb

April 17, 2017, 7:26 am
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I am experimenting with the layout of the screen and have dropped off the right hand menu which used to show the latest in the main forum and ABO forum. By removing these two menus, the screen looks less cluttered. It is also unlikely that someone would always need to be able to jump from wherever they are in the site to the latest forum posts.

The latest forum posts are listed on the home page of the site or the main page of the forum.

Comments welcomed.
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DCMs for the First Boer War - by: djb

April 17, 2017, 8:07 am
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According to Abbott, there were 20 awards of the DCM for the First Boer War:

Bradley, 673 Sgt J T, 2nd Connaught Rangers
Bridgstock, 317 Sgt, 2nd Northampton Regiment
Bush, 2418 Pte H, 2nd RSF
Cunnief, 1751 L Cpl P, 2nd RSF
Day, 10037 CSM T, RE
Gibson, 10205 Dvr R, RA
Godfrey, 1727 Pte C, 2nd Northampton Regiment
Hampton, 2428 L Cpl H, 2nd RSF
Hemsley, B1301 Pte C, 92nd Highlanders
Hyde, 5283 Sgt R J, RA
Jurgenson, Cndr C, C&T Corps
Maistre, 1441 C/Sgt H, 2nd Connaught Rangers
Murray, 774 SM C, 2nd Northampton Regiment
Murray, Pte J, 92nd Highlanders
Pead, 16832 Dvr Alfred, RA
Pearce, 396 Sgt J, 2nd Connaught Rangers
Sharkey, 732 L Sgt P, 2nd Connaught Rangers
Whalen, 2129 Pte M, 2nd Connaught Rangers
Wilkins, 2322 SM J, 3rd KRRC

And the actions for the DCM was awarded:

Bronkhorst Spruit 20 December 1880 - 3
Laing's Nek 26 January 1881 - 1
Laing's Nek 28 January 1881 - 2
Siege of Potchefstroom 22 January 1881 - 5
Siege of Lydenburg 22 January 1881 - 3
Pienaar's River 6 January 1881 - 1
Majuba 27 February 1881 - 2
Siege of Sanderson - 1
Schuins Hooghte 8 February 1881 - 1
Ingogo River 8 Feb 1881 - 1
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Medals to men who survived Isandhlwana - by: djb

April 17, 2017, 8:37 am
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This example from DNW, February 1999 which sold for £5,400.

[CMG]
SAGS (1) 1879 (Lieut. A. F. Henderson, Natal Native Horse)
[QSA]
[Natal 1906]

Alfred Fairlie Henderson was born sometime in1854 and educated at Heidelberg in Germany, returning to Natal in 1872 where he began farming and prospecting for gold. Of his fortunate escape from the battlefield of Isandhlwana, the following details appeared in the Natal newspapers at the time of his death: “With the passing of Mr. Henderson, Natal has lost a soldier whose experiences in the Zulu and Anglo Boer Wars were probably more trying than any other men who survived them. In 1879 he was one of the very few to escape the massacre of Isandhlwana and in 1899/1900 he again figured in the very few who existed through the siege of Ladysmith. It was his extensive knowledge of the Zulu language, his wide experience of Dutch habits and his familiarity with every part of Natal that made him an extraordinarily useful man in these wars. And, combined with those acquired qualifications there was an innate ability for soldiering which readily brought him to the forefront in the Intelligence Department in both campaigns. At the outbreak of the Zulu War in 1879 Mr. Henderson was placed in command of a big batch of natives recruited from Edendale under Captain George Shepstone. This contingent was amongst those surrounded but with one or two others Mr. Henderson broke through the weakest spot in the Usutu circle and effected a narrow escape. Having come through such a slaughter with his own life one would have expected that he would have moved on to safety as quickly as possible, but he did not, and in his actions at this juncture one can read the bravery, unselfishness and hardiness which combined to form a noble character. One of the very few Natal Carbimeers who escaped was Trooper Barker whose narrative of the battle was taken as an official one. In Barker’s description one reads that he (Barker) escaped and was riding away when he came across Lieutenant Higginson who was running away having lost his horse in crossing the flooded river. Barker gave his horse to Higginson and continued on foot. It appears that Mr. Henderson saw Higginson riding and recognised Barker’s horse, so promptly discovered that Barker was left behind unmounted, fleeing from a horde of blood-thirsty Zulus. It was riding to a possible death but Mr. Henderson did not waver. He collected another horse and rode back to meet Barker. In company with other men they escaped to Helpmekaar.”

Three days after the disaster at Isandhlwana Henderson wrote to his father from Helpmekaar, “You will have heard before this reaches you of the fight and massacre in Zululand. I would have written you yesterday only I wanted to try and hear something about George [Capt. G. J. P. Shepstone, Natal Native Horse, killed - Alfred’s brother-in-law]. I am afraid there is no hope for him. Colonel Durnford we think was killed as he has not turned up. The kaffirs surrounded us in thousands. We were fighting from about 9.30 a.m. until about 2 p.m. when the Zulus drove us into the camp. Our kaffirs fought well and stood their ground until we were surrounded. I never saw George all through the fight as he was with another part of our mounted men. There must have been about five hundred of our men killed. Twenty-two of the Natal Carbineers are killed. I don’t know what they are going to do with us just now. We have lost everything belonging to us. We may have to go down to town to fit out again then I will be able to give you more particulars.”

Alfre wrote again three days later with further details: “I wrote you the other day to say that I had got out of the fight the other day. I have not as yet heard anything about George. If I had known what sort of a man Durnford was (when he got into action) I don’t think I would have gone with him. He was close to me during most of the fight and he lost his head altogether in fact he did not know what to do. The General was (I think) a good deal to blame as he left the camp in such a bad place to defend. As far as I can make out there are about 700 killed white and black. They say there were about 20,000 Zulus and I think there must have been quite that number. We shot hundreds of them but it seemed to make no impression they still came on. Here we are now with nothing, all I saved was my mackintosh which was on the saddle. I have got one shilling left today. We have got to patrol the country with my troop and the Edendale troop, the only ones left...”

It is curious that Henderson makes no reference in his letters to the remarkable defence of Rorke’s Drift, for, at about 3.30 p.m. he arrived there from Isandhlwana with some one hundred men of the Hlubi and Edendale troops, Natal Native Horse. Lieutenant Chard, no doubt grateful for some reinforcements in light of the disturbing news that Henderson carried with him, put them out as a mounted screen to observe the Drift and the reverse slope of the Oskarberg. Several more survivors from Isandhlwana arrived and attempted to impress upon the garrison the futility of a defence, but Chard’s resolve could not be altered. These survivor’s, however, having seen the horror of Isandhlwana, and believing the same fate would surely befall Rorke’s Drift, continued their flight. At about 4.20 p.m. sporadic gunfire was heard behind the Oskarberg, and the Natal Light Horse galloped past the mission station in the direction of Helpmekaar. Lieutenant Henderson, pausing only to report that his troops refused to obey orders, took off in pursuit of them.

Henderson shortly afterwards contracted typhoid fever and returned to his home where he was nursed back to health in time to be in at the kill when the Zulu power was crushed at the battle of Ulundi. For the next twenty years Alfred was engaged in business with interests in several mining concessions amongst other enterprises. In the Boer War Henderson again came to prominence and received high commendation from the Director of Military Intelligence: “Mr. Alfred Fairlie Henderson, Field Intelligence Department, took part in the Defence of Ladysmith and was present at the operations near Helpmekaar and the actions at Alleman’s Nek and Bergendal and the advance on Lydenburg. Mr. Henderson’s services were invaluable. Mentioned in despatches, London Gazette 8th February, 1901.” For his scouting services throughout the defence of Ladysmith, Henderson was created a C.M.G.

Alfred subsequently served through the Zulu Rebellion of 1906 in the Helpmekaar Field Force under Colonel Mackay of Estcourt and was Chief Leader of the 1st Estcourt Militia Reserves. In a newspaper report of the 1st June, 1906, a correspondent with this force wrote that it seems a strange coincidence so many years after Isandhlwana that the Carbineers should camp on the scene of the calamity which had taken place twenty-seven years earlier. He added that it seemed even stranger since, with the Carbineers in the person of Mr. Henderson, chief leader of the Estcourt, Mooi River and other reservists, there should be one of the survivors of the fight. “A hale hearty old Gentleman, Mr. Henderson despite his years is as eager now as he was in the full vigour of his youth in pursuing the work he has taken up.”
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Medals to Isandhlwana casualties - by: djb

April 17, 2017, 8:49 am
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From DNW, December 2004.

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Pictures courtesy of DNW

The South African campaign medal to Sub-Lieutenant T. L. G. Griffith, 2nd Battalion, 24th Foot, youngest of the battalion’s five officers killed at the battle of Isandhlwana

SAGS (1) 1877-8-9 (Sub-Lieut. T. L. Griffiths, 2/24th Foot)

Ex Spink auction 28 March 1995 and formerly in the collections of Dr S. Z. Ross and Norman Holme.

Thomas Llewelyn George Griffith was born at Chadlington, Oxfordshire, on 8 October 1857, eldest son of the Reverend Thomas Llewelyn Griffith, M.A., of Pen-yNant, near Ruabon, North Wales, and Rector OD Deal, Kent, and Mary Moncrieff, his wife, daughter of Brevet Major George St Vincent Whitmore, Royal Engineers.

He was educated at Marlborough College and at the Priory at Croydon, passing his Army examination as well as those at Sandhurst and Edinburgh, where for a period he was attached to the 78th Highlanders. On 14th August 1877 he was gazetted as a Sub-Lieutenant into the 2nd Battalion, 24th Foot, his commission being antedated to 11 November 1876.

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He joined the battalion at Chatham in October 1877, and on 1 February 1878 embarked with the regiment for the Cape of Good Hope. He was present during many operations during the Kaffir War and saw much service with his battalion. In November 1878, he joined the force preparing for the invasion of Zululand, and took part in the subsequent advance into that country, being present at the storming of Sirayo’s stronghold in the Bashee Valley, afterwards proceeding to Isandhlwana.

On the morning of 22nd January 1879, Griffith left Isandhlwana with the main body of the column under Lord Chelmsford, but subsequently rode back on special service with Major Smith, Captain Gardner and Lieutenant Dyer, to convey the General’s orders to advance the camp. Colonel Black, visiting the battlefield five months afterwards, for the purpose of burying the dead, found the bodies of some sixty officers and men lying in a group, giving evidence of their having gathered together and fought desperately to the last. Among them were the remains of Captain Wardell, Lieutenant Dyer and a captain and subaltern of the 2-24th, the latter, it is believed, being the body of young Griffith.

A memorial lectern in the parish church of St Leonard’s, Deal, marks the estimation in which he was held by those round his own home, having been placed there by friends in his father’s parish and the neighbourhood. His South Africa medal with clasp 1877-8-9, incorrectly named ‘Griffiths’, was issued on 30 June 1882. The above information was extracted from The South African Campaign of 1879, by J. P. Mackinnon and S. H. Shadbolt, and The Noble 24th, by Norman Holme.

Sold for £13,000.
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VCs for the Zulu War 1877-1879 - by: djb

April 17, 2017, 9:29 am
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There were 23 awards of the VC for the Zulu Wars, including two posthumous awards.

Allan, William, 24th Regiment. Date 22–23 January 1879. Action: Rorke's Drift
Beresford, William, 9th Lancers. Date 3 July 1879. Action: White Umfolozi River, Zululand
Booth, Anthony, 80th Regiment. Date 12 March 1879. Action: Battle of Intombe, Transvaal
Bromhead, Gonville, 24th Regiment. Date 22–23 January 1879. Action: Rorke's Drift
Browne, Edward, 24th Regiment. Date 28 March 1879. Action: Battle of Khambula, Zululand
Buller, Redvers, 60th Rifles. Date 28 March 1879. Action: Battle of Hlobane, Zululand
Chard, John, Royal Engineers. Date 22–23 January 1879. Action: Rorke's Drift
Coghill, Nevill, 24th Regiment. Date 22 January 1879. Action: Isandhlwana
Dalton, James, Commissariat and Transport Department. Date 22–23 January 1879. Action: Rorke's Drift
D'Arcy, Henry, Frontier Light Horse. Date 3 July 1879. Action: White Umfolozi River, Zululand
Fowler, Edmund, 90th Regiment. Date 28 March 1879. Action: Battle of Hlobane, Zululand
Hitch, Frederick, 24th Regiment. Date 22–23 January 1879. Action: Rorke's Drift
Hook, Alfred, 24th Regiment. Date 22–23 January 1879. Action: Rorke's Drift
Jones, Robert, 24th Regiment. Date 22–23 January 1879. Action: Rorke's Drift
Jones, William, 24th Regiment. Date 22–23 January 1879. Action: Rorke's Drift
Leet, William, 13th Regiment. Date 28 March 1879. Action: Battle of Hlobane, Zululand
Lysons, Henry, 90th Regiment. Date 28 March 1879. Action: Battle of Hlobane, Zululand
Melvill, Teignmouth, 24th Regiment. Date 22 January 1879. Action: Isandhlwana
O'Toole, Edmund, Frontier Light Horse. Date 3 July 1879. Action: White Umfolozi River, Zululand
Reynolds, James, Army Medical Department. Date 22–23 January 1879. Action: Rorke's Drift
Schiess, Christian, 3rd Natal Native Contingent. Date 22–23 January 1879. Action: Rorke's Drift
Wassall, Samuel, 80th Regiment. Date 22 January 1879. Action: Isandhlwana
Williams, John, 24th Regiment. Date 22–23 January 1879. Action: Rorke's Drift
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The Isandhlwana London Gazette from 15 March 1879 - by: djb

April 17, 2017, 9:55 am
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This edition of the LG was devoted to accounts and casualty lists.

The 20 page Gazette is split into 3 sections. The list of casualties for forms the middle of three sections.
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Ladysmith TG and Nesbitt's Horse - Creswicke V7. - by: LinneyI

April 17, 2017, 8:32 pm
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Forum members
Another couple of pics as above. A close look at the lads of the Ladysmith TG appear to show some Martinis in hand. Can't tell if MH, MM or ME.
Nesbitts lads are holding both Magazine Lee Enfield rifles and (probably) Lee Metford carbines.
Regards to all
IL.
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Mounted Colonials and the Battle of Isandlwana - by: Brett Hendey

April 18, 2017, 2:12 am
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I have added the table missing from the original post.

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The Newcastle Mounted Rifles did not have a badge. The men simply painted N M R on their white helmets. Badges of the Buffalo Border Guard are exceedingly rare. I was once told that only two are known to exist.

Brett
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Another Natal Police group - G.A. Hewitt - by: Rory

April 18, 2017, 6:31 am
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Another group entering the collection (and to prove that I have not deserted my roots completely) is that to George Arthur Hewitt. Mr Hewitt saw service in the Boer War with the Mounted Infantry section of Prince Alfred's Volunteer Guard and then joined the ranks of the Natal Border Police, Natal Police and the S.A. Prisons Service.

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Regards

Rory
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The Boer War Rifles of the Natal Volunteers. - by: Terry Willson

April 18, 2017, 12:39 pm
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Rifles & Carbines issued to the permanent regiments and their approximate periods of use:

1) Martini Metford Mk.II Rifle (1895 - 1902)
2) Martini Metford Mk.III Cavalry Carbine (1895 - 1906)

3) Martini Enfield Mk.I Rifle (1899 - 1903)
4) Martini Enfield Mk.I Cavalry Carbine (1899 - 1910)
5) Martini Enfield Mk.III Artillery Carbine (1901 - 1910)

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Sgt Webb of the Natal Police - by: Rory

April 18, 2017, 1:46 pm
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Walter James Webb

Trooper, Natal Police – Anglo Boer War
2nd Class Sergeant, Natal Police – Bambatha Rebellion

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Relief of Ladysmith and South Africa 1901 to 1789 Tpr. J.W. Webb, Natal Police
- Natal Medal (Bambatha) with 1906 clasp to 2C Sgt, W.J. Webb, Natal Police
- Permanent Forces of the Empire beyond the Seas Medal to No. 722 1st Cl. Sgt. W.J Webb, 2nd S.A.M.R.

Walter Webb was born in Islington, Middlesex, England on 15 December 1874 and was baptised in the parish of Buttle Bridge on Valentine’s Day of 1875. His parents were Daniel Webb, a Warder in Her Majesty’s Prison Service and his wife Harriet Mary Ann. At the time of the baptism the family lived at 30 Roman Road.

Six years later, at the time of the 1881 England census, the family had moved further up (or down) the same street and now lived at 13 Roman Road in Islington. Mr Webb was the Principal Warder and Cook (quite a separation of tasks) at the Pentonville Prison – an establishment built to house up to 1000 prisoners some of whom were destined for transportation. Older siblings Daniel (13) and Harriet (10) completed the household picture.

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Webb is fourth from the right in the first row - next to Inspector Caminada

Ten years later, at the time of the 1891 England census the family had moved to 173 Scovell Road in Southwark, London. Mr Webb had come down in the world, quite literally, and now had the dirty job of Attendant at Lavatories – his wife occupied in the same pursuit. Young Walter, now 16 and presumably having finished his education, was employed, along with his brother, as a Printer’s Apprentice.

On 16 November 1896 Webb enlisted in England for service with the Natal Police. Providing his father of 22a Beresford Street, Camberwell as his next of kin. He was in possession of an Army Ambulance Certificate and testimonials from the Manager of the Printing Works in Finsbury Square (his previous employers), a Lecturer at the Borough Polytechnic Institute and Captain R.H. Hummal of the City of London Volunteers. Physically he was described as being 5 feet 9 inches in height with a fresh complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. He had a dark mark on his right temple (coal) and a scar on his right eyebrow. A Compositor by trade he was 21 years and 11 months old and a Protestant. Having been taken on strength he was assigned the rank of Trooper with no. 1789 and thus began his long career in uniform with his first promotion – that to 1st Class Trooper – on 16 November 1897.

On 27 May 1898 whilst stationed at Colenso he penned a letter to Sub-Inspector West which read as follows,

“Sir

I herewith send report and rough sketch, with names of friends of the girl (Nabokizi), who was run over by a goods train on the N.G.R. line on the night of the 25th.

I received information of the accident by a Kaffir boy at about eight o’ clock Thursday morning. I immediately sent a native policeman with an Indian Constable to stop anyone interfering with the body. Directly Trooper McIntyre returned from the railway station, off duty, we proceeded to the spot, which is situated about one mile and a quarter from Colenso railway station, in the Ladysmith police division.

We found that the body was completely severed (the legs and the lower portion of the abdomen forming one part, whilst the trunk, arms and head, another), and had been removed by a native boy to about 20 yards away from the metals.

Trooper McIntyre wired off to Sergeant Lewis, at Ladysmith, informing him of the accident, also one to Sub-Inspector West at Estcourt. We made full investigations and everything goes to prove that it was purely accidental – I have put down the names of the girls who were with her at the time of her death, on the sketch. The District Surgeon and Sergeant Stone, of the Railway Police, arrived by the 5.50 down goods train, to make an examination of the body.

At Sergeant Stone’s request, I have sent out a native Constable to warn all necessary natives to appear at the Magistrate’s Court, Ladysmith, on Tuesday, May 31st, to make their depositions. I left the body for her friends to remove, and bury it, by orders of the District Surgeon.

Your obedient servant.

Walter J Webb, Trooper in charge (For Lance Sergeant Gordon – on leave)

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The sketch showing the train accident which cost the young girl her life

Webb wasn’t to know, like most men and women in late Victorian times, that a war was brewing in which he was to play a part. Tensions had been festering between the two Dutch Republics in South Africa – the Orange Free State and the Transvaal (or Z.A.R.) and the mighty British Empire. These tensions spilled over into open war on 11 October 1899 and the Natal Police, apart from performing their normal duties to the best of their abilities, were called upon to augment the Colonial forces gathering in Natal to come to the aid of the woefully inadequate number of British troops in the Colony. The force was divided into various segments – some were attached to Buller’s relief force finding themselves involved in some of the actions leading up to the Relief of Ladysmith whilst others were caught up in the town itself and formed part of the Defence thereof. Still more were assigned to the Melmoth Field Force and there was even a small number who were detached to Bethune’s Force who were used as a distraction to entice the Boers into having to defend another front.

Webb was in the force which occasioned after a long period (certainly for the inhabitants of that town) the Relief of Ladysmith. After much delay and many setbacks this force entered Ladysmith on 1 March 1900 thereby lifting the suffocating siege that had afflicted all residents. For his efforts Webb was awarded the Queens Medal with the Relief clasp. For reasons which were soon apparent he took his discharge from the Natal Police on 31 October 1900 - his character being regarded as Exemplary. A letter dated 3 November 1900 on a letterhead from the “Office of the Superintendent of Police, Durban provides us with the reason for his discharge. Signed by W.J. Webb it read as follows,

“To Colonial Under Secretary

Dear Sir

Kindly forward to the above address two application forms for Civil Service in the Transvaal and oblige you most obedient servant.”

On the 10th November the Principal Under Secretary obligingly replied enclosing forms of application for employment in what was called the New Territories and advising that, once completed, these should be returned in triplicate through His Excellency the Governor, to the Imperial Secretary, Cape Town. Seemingly nothing came of this and it wasn’t long before the lure of life in uniform claimed him again – on 30 April 1901 he re-attested for service and was promptly re-engaged. On this occasion his father’s residential details were altered to “Percer Villa, Ashburnham Road, Luton, Bedfordshire.”

The formal stage of the Boer War was over by this juncture with the Boers having been expelled from Natal and now pursuing guerrilla-type tactics elsewhere in the country to keep the conflict going. A last ditch effort was made by General Botha in September 1901 to re-invade Natal from the north of the Colony but this was repelled and the fight continued on other fronts. The war over on 31 May 1902 Webb and his comrades returned to normal policing duties – he had, on 21 March of that year, received a promotion to Lance Sergeant followed, on 15 July 1902 to 2nd Class Sergeant.

A further taste of what life for a Colonial policeman was like comes to us in the form of a criminal case – Rex vs Badal (an Indentured Indian) who was charged for contravening Section 31 of the Law (25/1891) on 20 April 1903.

Sgt. Webb appeared for the prosecution and charged “That accused states that he got a note from the Stationmaster at Glencoe Junction which he has lost. He also states that he left Glencoe in January last and that he spent the last 3 months between that place and Weenen; that his term of indenture (5 years) expired in December last.

Sergeant Webb produces wire from Stationmaster, Glencoe-Junction and Railway Police, Glencoe – stating that accused is unknown and did not get a pass from the Stationmaster.”

The witness statement from the Railway Police in Ladysmith read that, “The Indian named Badall is a free Indian and was in the employ of the N.G.R. at Ladysmith. He left his work last Monday the 13th instant without permission. The N.G.R. here do not want him back as he is practically useless but they have reported him as an absentee.”

Needless to say the verdict was Guilty and the sentence imposed was to pay a fine of 10/- or to be imprisoned for seven days hard labour. On expiry of sentence the accused was to be forwarded “under sufficient guard” to the Protector of Indian Immigrants, Durban for identification.

On 21 April Webb wrote to the Protector of Indian Immigrants as follows,

“Sir

I have the honour to state that Indian Badal was arrested at this place last week and was sentenced by the Acting Magistrate. This man paid his fine.”

On 6 June 1904 Webb was transferred to the Gaols Department and on 6 February 1905 he wed 22 year old Margaret Jane Barron in Weenen and was placed on the Married Establishment. Later that year, on 22 December 1905 he was transferred to the Mounted Branch – this was three weeks after the birth of his first child, Walter Daniel Barron Webb. As an aside an interesting link to his wife appeared in a publication in February 1910 – It read as follows,

“There is an interesting veteran in Ladysmith in the person of Mr. W. J. Barron, who is staying with his daughter, Mrs. Webb, wife of Sergeant Webb, who is in charge of the Railway Police. Mr. Barron served in the Crimea, Indian Mutiny, Zulu war, and the old Boer war, and gained many decorations. Even in his advanced years he volunteered for service under General Buller early in December, 1899, and was rather chagrined when his offer was declined owing to his age. He had, however, a son who took his place, and served with distinction.”

Tranquillity seemed to be the order of the day but this was to be rudely interrupted by the onset of yet another conflagration. Natal, post-Boer war, was not a happy place financially. The Colonial Government had had to shoulder much of the expenses inevitably incurred in the business of waging war and had been battling for some time to make ends meet. Demands on the fiscus were many and funds were few. The powers-that-be hit upon an ingenious scheme to raise revenue – they imposed a Poll Tax on the head of every Zulu male of 18 year of age and above.

This imposition was grudgingly but grumblingly accepted by the majority of Zulu Chiefs but not all were so compliant or acquiescent. A young hot-head by the name of Bambatha – a minor chief of the Zondi clan in the Kranskop area of Greytown went about the land openly fomenting rebellion and encouraging all who would listen to refuse to pay the tax to the Magistrates when they called round to collect it. Matters got out of hand very quickly and two Natal Policemen were murdered by rebellious Zulus when they went to collect the tax. The Natal Militia were called out by the Government in early 1906 but, after a few weeks the rebellion appeared to have fizzled out and they were demobilised and sent home. This move proved to be premature as Bambatha was actively seeking further support from his kinsmen, even venturing deep into Zululand to achieve this end. Again the Militia were called out in numbers with the Natal Police playing an important role. Webb, who had been transferred to the Railway Police on 2 March 1906, might very well have been one of those on hand at Mome Gorge near Nkandla when Bambatha and his warriors were finally brought to book – hemmed in on all sides and mowed down with nowhere to escape by the Natal volunteer forces.

For his role in the conflict Webb was awarded the Natal Medal with 1906 clasp. Now back home his second child, Percy George Fox Webb was born on 16 October 1907. His last child, Victor James Craig Webb was born on 5 August 1909. 1909 was to prove an important year in his police career – a Railway strike broke out in Ladysmith and, as is so often the case with a strike, matters soon turned nasty. Webb came in for a special mention for “Good service during Natal Government Railway strike, Ladysmith – Noted by S Troop Command.” This was tantamount to a Mention in Dispatches in the military sense.

On 1 May 1912 Webb re-attested for a further three years and was transferred back to the Mounted Branch in Pietermaritzburg on 1 July of that year – the fact that his first-born passed away at the age of six might have had something to do with that decision. For his considerable service he was awarded the Permanent Forces of the Empire beyond the Seas Medal for 18 years exemplary service in 1914. The Natal Police had ceased to exist not long before this - replaced by the South African Mounted Rifles of which Webb was a member of the 4th Squadron.

Walter James Webb settled in the Midlands of Natal where, at the age of 65 years and 9 months, he passed away at this residence in Estcourt “Barronda” on Friday, 20 September 1940. His estate, bequeathed to his wife and surviving children, was a sizeable on amounting to £2384.

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CT TG, (Permanent Guard, CDF) and Port Eliz TG. A Coy. - by: LinneyI

April 18, 2017, 8:25 pm
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More from Creswicke Vol.7
Sorry about the reflection on the LHS of the second pic.
Must do better!
IL.
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Military uniforms of the Cape Frontier Wars 1 - by: Brett Hendey

April 19, 2017, 3:11 am
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The Frontier Wars (1834 - 1853) in what is now the Eastern Cape Province were fought between the British and the Xhosa. After the campaign of 1846/47 (the War of the Axe) ended, the area where the conflict had taken place was proclaimed 'British Kaffraria'. It encompassed the area south of the Kei River, which subsequently became known as the Ciskei to differentiate it from the more northerly Transkei. All of the latter and part of the Ciskei became 'Independent Homelands' under South Africa's Apartheid Government. The Ciskei had one of the more colourful periods of independence as a visit to Wikipedia will reveal.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ciskei

One of the income-generating schemes adopted by the Ciskei was to produce commemorative postage stamps. These included three series depicting the uniforms worn by British regiments that took part in the Frontier Wars fought on Ciskei soil. The artwork was down by the renowned Andy May.

The first of the series showed uniforms worn by the 6th (Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot.

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Military uniforms of the Cape Frontier Wars 2 - by: Brett Hendey

April 19, 2017, 4:31 am
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Military uniforms of the Cape Frontier Wars 3 - by: Brett Hendey

April 19, 2017, 4:34 am
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3207 Private W. J. Steele, 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusilier - by: QSAMIKE

April 19, 2017, 8:30 am
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Good Morning Everyone.....

I picked this group up at the Calgary Show and have gone through FMP and Martin Cassidy's book and cannot find anything..... I was also able to go to Ancestry on a free weekend and again I could find nothing, maybe I am doing something wrong......

Can anyone help or put me on a right track.....

Q.S.A. - 3207 Private W. J. Steele, 1st Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
1915 Star - 22110 Company Quartermaster Sergeant W. Steele, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
Pair - 22110 Warrant Officer Class 2, W. Steele, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers
L.S.G.C. George V - 1532 Company Sergeant Major W. J. Steele, Royal Irish Regiment

Any assistance greatly appreciated.......

Mike
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